London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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41
ARTIFICIAL SUNLIGHT TREATMENT
(The Baby Clinic and Hospital).
Dr. W. A. Hislop, one of the Medical Officers of the Hospital, has kindly supplied me with
this report in regard to Light Treatment.
During the past year, 4,911 treatments were conducted in the Light Department of the BabyClinic
and Hospital, and the average weekly attendance was 95. One hundred and sixty-one children
were treated during the year.
In the Department, there are two mercury vapour lamps, two radiant heat lamps and one
long-ray red lamp.
It has been found in most cases beneficial to have massage and rhythmic exercises carried out
together with the light treatment, and in a number of cases electrical treatment is given with definite
remedial exercises.
Several children, resident in Kensington, have been referred from Great Ormond Street Children's
Hospital, and from the Orthopaedic Department of Westminster Hospital for light treatment and exercises,
as well as a considerable number of children from the infant welfare centres serving the borough.
Instruction to the mothers on the value of sunlight in general has been given throughout the year,
and during the summer months effective use was made of the excellent roof garden at the clinic.
The children treated have been mostly those suffering from rickets, bronchitis, abdominal tuberculosis,
under-nourishment and general debility following measles and whooping-cough.
The cases of rickets and debility following measles and whooping-cough have shown marked
improvement.
During the year, the clinic commenced to give light treatment to mothers. So far, however, only
a few women have received it, but it is hoped in the future to find more time for the treatment of a large
number of ante-natal and post-natal women who are in need of it.
QUEEN CHARLOTTE'S HOSPITAL ANTE-NATAL CLINIC.
Up to May, 1930, this clinic was conducted weekly at No. 176, Ladbroke Grove, which house
is the residence of the Queen Charlotte's Hospital nurses who carry on district midwifery in North
Kensington. The accommodation provided for the clinic was inadequate and unsuitable, and the
Borough-Council proposed to the Hospital authorities that the latter should rent the light and airy
basement at No. 240, Ladbroke Grove, which is a large corner house recently acquired by the
Council to enable the work of the Raymede infant welfare centre to be continued on the ground
and upper floors.
These new premises make it possible to hold two ante-natal sessions weekly, and in 1930 the
total number of sessions held was 75. Nine hundred and five women attended, and of this number
755 were Kensington women.

MASSAGE AND ELECTRICAL TREATMENT CENTRE. Massage and electrical treatment is undertaken at the Princess Louise Kensington Hospital for Children and the following is a record of the work conducted thereat during the year 1930:—

New Cases—
Under 5 years of age36
Over 5 years of age131
167
Discharged—
Under 5 years of age23
Over 5 years of age129
152
Transferred to other hospitals because over age8
Total cases treated226
Total treatments given. 4,493

The Borough Council make an annual grant to the authorities of the hospital for this
treatment.
Massage treatment for children is also provided at the Archer Street and Campden Hill
infant welfare centres.